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Eleftherios Venizelos used this honorary title during his visit to Pelion in 1934 for Makrinitsa, one of the most popular and beautiful villages of Pelion. The natural beauty of the landscape, the perfectly preserved Pelion architecture, the enchanting goddess from the square and the short distance from Volos have made Makrinitsa (Makrinitsa) one of the most popular tourist destinations in Pelion throughout the year.
Route to Makrinitsa
To get to Makrinitsa either from Athens or from Thessaloniki, exit the National Road to Volo-Velestino and just before entering Volos you will see a sign that says to Portaria.
You will find yourself on the regional avenue of Volos and after passing the municipal stadium of the city, you will turn after a few kilometers for Ano Volos and Portaria . Once you reach Portaria you have just two more kilometres to Makrinitsa.
The settlement of Makrinitsa
Makrinitsa, a preserved traditional settlement of absolute protection, is built almost vertically on a green slope of Pelion above Volos, which explains the great difference in altitude from the first houses of the village in the district of Koukourava to the higher ones.
On the cobbled streets of Makrinitsa
The communication between the settlements of Makrinitsa was made by a well-built cobbled road that is still in excellent condition today. Walk from the central square to the church of Panagia and see the cobbled cobblestones of Makrinitsa with wedged stones that, to facilitate walking at the walking distance of an average man, protrude for better grip when it rains or when there is snow-ice.
Square of Makrinitsa
The main attraction of Makrinitsa is the so-called balcony of the village, which is none other than the large square with the plane trees. Some of the not so few attractions or points of interest in the square of Makrinitsa are the following:
- Of course the panoramic view of Volos and the Pagasitic Gulf
- The church of John the Baptist,
- The marble fountain with the four bronze lionheads and the immortal water as well as
- The Theophilos café, where you will see the large mural by the famous Greek painter Theophilos Hadjimichael from 1910, entitled “Battle of Krya Vrysi“. (see the photo of Theophilos’ mural in the traditional café in the square of Makrinitsa, in the photos below).
Sightseeing in Makrinitsa
In summary, some of the sights, apart from those mentioned above in the main square, that are worth visiting and seeing during your stay in Makrinitsa are the following:
- The tower of Skotiniotis, in the district of Koukourava
- The Museum of Folk Art and History of Pelion in the mansion Topali, a few meters below the central square. Phone: 2421029878, 2428099505 (during opening hours)
- Byzantine Museum of Makrinitsa(www.makrinitsamuseum.gr, Phone:2428090016)
Accommodation in Makrinitsa
One of the many advantages of Makrinitsa is the accommodation options there. You will find rooms to let but also some extremely renovated guesthouses .
If you cannot find a room due to high demand, please search hotels in Portaria but also in Volta as the distances are very short. This is one of the great advantages of Makrinitsa and also of the Portaria . They are located very close to the hotels of Volos in case you didn’t book and didn’t manage to find a room in the cosmopolitan villages of Pelion.
Plus, take a look at the rest of the hotels in Pelion for an idea of location, prices or anything else you want.
Photos from Makrinitsa
text/photos: Yannis Tsouratzis
Map with the location of Makrinitsa
Διαβάστε και δείτε τις φωτογραφίες της Πορταριάς
Useful Phone Numbers – Makrinitsa
- Rural Clinic: 24280 99106
- Police: 24280 99105
- Community of Makrinitsa : 24280 99140
- Museum of Folk Art and History of Pelion: 24280 99505
Accommodation in Makrinitsa
One of the many advantages of Makrinitsa is the accommodation options there. You will find rooms to let but also some extremely renovated guesthouses .
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